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NHL Draft - ProspectsDiscuss hockey prospects from all over the world and the NHL Draft.

C/W Jonathan Drouin - Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL 2013 Draft)

Trust me, Barkov won't slip TOP 3. I had good off the record chat with Button for 5 minutes, enough said.

I'm not saying Barkov will drop out of the Top 3 and Drouin rises to # 3, but take anything Button has to say with a grain of salt. The guy is an absolutely terrible evaluator of talent and his record as a NHL GM proves that, his record of drafting proves that.

I would for sure without a doubt if I were picking that team.... but HC has a different mindset and philosophy. In fact I'd go all out and take an entire kid line of 95 born players as my 3rd line that would include Drouin-Mackinnon and N Petan (95 born player currently 3rd in WHL scoring) That's 3rd line in the event of a lockout that includes RNH 1st line center and Scheifele 2nd line center.

just think, all 3 would be required to wear the cage, thus they'll be nicknamed the Kid line or the Cage line and every successful team seems to have a trio that catches the imagination of media and fans... i.e. the legion of doom.

I don't think he will knock off Jones,Barkov, or Mackinnon but I could see him going as high as 4. But like somebody above said he is better then Huberdeau at the same age just to put that in perspective.

I'd accept he could make a push for 4th. I still think it's going to be incredibly difficult for him to actually break top 5 but I can see it happening.

And offensively he may be as talented as Huberdeau (or more so) at the same age, but does that put him above some players that are better all around with slightly less of an offensive game? I'm mean Lindholm is better than Backstrom in the SEL at the same age and he has that better all around game.

half of them would be eligible again next year. Nice dream team but the 93's must have their day with HC.

If I were HC I'd be quick to get rid of the 93s as there are very few stars in there aside from RNH and 1 or two others... The quicker we can get on to the 95s the better, a much more offensively gifted group reminiscent of the 1985 players.

The first two lines are 93s...there's your experienced leadership with skill + talent...

94s and 95s making up the rest of the list, less experienced but uber-skilled...

I'm not saying Barkov will drop out of the Top 3 and Drouin rises to # 3, but take anything Button has to say with a grain of salt. The guy is an absolutely terrible evaluator of talent and his record as a NHL GM proves that, his record of drafting proves that.

Well, it's not all about his ability to evaluate prospects. Them top notch scouts does share their lists with Button, so for now Button's list is like one of the most reliable public list there is out.

Well, it's not all about his ability to evaluate prospects. Them top notch scouts does share their lists with Button, so for now Button's list is like one of the most reliable public list there is out.

Again, I'm not making any predictions! I have yet to see Barkov play. But if Drouin continues on this pace all year, 2.23 PPG average, then he's in the conversation as a legitimate TOP 3 pick.

The fact that Drouin probably won't go top 3 really just tells you how deep this draft is, any other draft he is a lock for top 3. With this draft though looking at probably 5-6 players that have top 3 pick potential, just means there will be some incredibley lucky teams picking in the top 10 of this draft. Players like Linholm,Monahan, and Drouin would usually be top 3 picks in any given draft imo doesn't mean any less on there part.

Watching the game on TV now. Drouin is just crazy good with the puck. Making some ridiculous plays. I really think he'll contend for #1.

I agree 100%... but I think any GM takes Nate anyways due to the hype. Whether Jones, Barkov, Monahan, Drouin or anyone may turn out to be better.. Nathan is Nathan, the media has focused on him so much. The fans adore him and want him to play for their team and the GM‘s know this. I think you have to take Nate 1st regardless of the best player available, which he most likely is, or reeeeeaaaaallllly risk losing fans and possible sales. No doubt in my mind that MacKinnon jerseys are gonna sell out within a week of being put out. Not worth the risk.

I agree 100%... but I think any GM takes Nate anyways due to the hype. Whether Jones, Barkov, Monahan, Drouin or anyone may turn out to be better.. Nathan is Nathan, the media has focused on him so much. The fans adore him and want him to play for their team and the GM‘s know this. I think you have to take Nate 1st regardless of the best player available, which he most likely is, or reeeeeaaaaallllly risk losing fans and possible sales. No doubt in my mind that MacKinnon jerseys are gonna sell out within a week of being put out. Not worth the risk.

I agree to an extent. It's honestly only November, and Drouin is putting up ridiculous numbers. If he continues like this and into the playoffs his hype will grow too.

Side bar question. Is Mackinnon getting a lot of hype all around the country? I live in Halifax so it's normal to me, but is it all across Canada in general?

I agree to an extent. It's honestly only November, and Drouin is putting up ridiculous numbers. If he continues like this and into the playoffs his hype will grow too.

Side bar question. Is Mackinnon getting a lot of hype all around the country? I live in Halifax so it's normal to me, but is it all across Canada in general?

I‘m not sure. I too am a Haligonian, so like you, I get use to seeing his face on the cover of the Metro and the CH. It‘s because of this team that I don‘t miss the NHL ONE BIT. I‘d assume he gets talked about in other places, but not like it is here.. I‘d imagine the cities with OHL teams talk most about McDavid, even if he isn‘t eligible until ‘15.. and out West they‘d talk Jones. Heck, I had family just outside of Pittsburgh back when Crosby was drafted and they had NO IDEA who he was!!

While Drouin‘s hype will most likely grow, I don‘t think it will pass the whole “next Crosby“. To me, that‘s a BIG factor as to why he‘s been slated to go #1 and why fans love him so much. I like Drouin more myself, as does the rest of my family. To me, MacKinnon tries to do a bit too much with the puck.. almost like Marchand did when he played here. Granted, Nate is already a better player than Brad is, but still.. he seems too showey for my liking. Many disagree, but I stand by my opinion.

Watching the game on TV now. Drouin is just crazy good with the puck. Making some ridiculous plays. I really think he'll contend for #1.

I really don't think he will. Lots of nice toe drags and dipsy-doodles on the Drouin highlight reel again tonight, but again, tonight, MacKinnon walks away as the 1st star of the game, and he really was. Like, not even close. Not to take away from Drouin, btw, as much as trying to explain (as an observer who doesn't have to rely on box scores) exactly how different two guys can look while putting up similar points in the same game.

To me, MacKinnon tries to do a bit too much with the puck.. almost like Marchand did when he played here. Granted, Nate is already a better player than Brad is, but still.. he seems too showey for my liking. Many disagree, but I stand by my opinion.

Totally valid observation and opinion, first off. But realize, this is the level where these guys get to test their limits with a bit of risky play before scrutiny and the weight of 100s of millions of dollars affects their in-game decision-making. Nate does go for a lot of 1-on-1 plays when maybe he doesn't have to, but even his unsuccessful attempts usually result in some kind of scramble or chaos (definitely pucks deep in the opponent end at the very least), because he is just that strong/good at fighting for the puck. If you watch him enough, you see that most of the time he just takes the open ice that opponents give him, and it's up to who can keep up through the neutral zone. If he's left in an isolated 1-on-1, he goes straight at the net almost every time, and I can't blame him.

I mean, it's not like he also isn't one of the best set-up men on the team. That tic-tac-toe play from Drouin to him to Frk was just classic MacKinnon split-second, puck on the stick - off the stick in a split second, right on the tape, no-look set up. Good set up on the earlier Fournier goal, too. Basically, when you see how many times he successfully dissects the defense to set up goals for teammates, it's hard to rag on him for going "outside the box" on a few 1-on-1s.